Chapter 90 Winter. County Town Trip
As soon as October began, all twenty-two villagers of Shili Village were led by Zhou Cunzheng to perform labor service.
It is a small village, and the already small number of able-bodied laborers has become even smaller, with the remaining ones mostly being the elderly, the weak, women and children.
But the amazing thing is that, apart from being a little quieter, people have fewer smiles on their faces and more sorrow. Occasionally they gather together to worry about whether their men, sons, and mothers will suffer a lot while serving in the army, or whether they will be whipped by the yamen runners. It seems that life is not particularly different from before.
In short, if the small world that Sang Luo perceived could be described as a lake, then the surface of the lake was still relatively calm.
Sang Luo and her friends continued to do their business, but the person who would give the women a ride early in the morning was no longer Chen Youtian but Old Man Chen.
During this period, Sang Luo went to the county four more times, and exchanged the copper coins for grain and cotton as usual and brought them back. The extra money, along with the goods from Yongfengzhai, was exchanged for silver and saved in a broken clay pot under her bed.
If there is any difference, the Shen Jin brothers haven't been here for quite some time.
There was nothing that could be done about it. Shen An and Shen Ning might feel a little melancholy occasionally, but they would be able to adjust themselves quickly.
They were grateful for Shen Jin's reminder that day. Of course, they also understood that Shen Jin no longer came here now, because no matter what their parents were like, it was okay when there was nothing to do, but when they really saw their father being punished to do hard labor and heard their mother complaining about the bad things about the eldest house every day, it was inevitable that they would feel uncomfortable.
However, the brother and sister soon had no time to think about these things, because by mid-October, the harvest season of sour dates was coming to an end, and more sour dates were falling every day.
Sang Luo borrowed a backpack from the Chen family and took her two children to the mountains several times a day. With the goose and the lock, especially now that the goose can be let loose behind the bamboo fence, and with Chen San's current situation serving as a warning to the villagers, Sang Luo can go out with her two children without worry, and can even go further to other villages to pick sour dates, jujubes and dig konjac in the mountains next to the village.
The backpack is covered with wild vegetables, and no one is surprised if you occasionally run into people there. After all, life is hard, and many people take advantage of the wild vegetables to pick some and dry them for the winter.
Sang Luo was even busier. Winter came in October and the weather seemed to change overnight. In addition to preparing mountain products for food every day, she spent all her time making winter clothes and shoes for herself and her two children. She also made a thick quilt weighing seven kilograms.
When the eight jars at home were full, Sang Luo planned to go to the county. Of course, this time she did not forget a favor she had promised the brother and sister a long time ago - to take them to the county for a visit when she was not so tight on money.
The five cents she had earned from setting up the office was now in Sang Luo's hands so that she could take it out or be reluctant to spend it. There was no need for someone to watch the house, so she had planned to fulfill the promise she had made a few days ago.
I specially brought a few eggs with me and asked Zhou Lizheng to get a pass for the two little ones.
It was October 19th when the pass was received. On the morning of the 21st, the brother and sister put on the new jackets, new pants and new shoes made by their eldest sister-in-law. Shen An was careful and helped Shen Ning to comb the small bun on her head neatly and beautifully.
It was already very cold in the morning, especially since it was still dark and the cold wind was blowing straight into people's necks.
Old man Chen and Qin Fang's mother, who came to pick up the goods, had already changed into winter clothes. When they saw the brother and sister traveling together, they specially picked up one of the loads themselves and left room on the cart so that the brother and sister could sit on it. Sang Luo also wrapped the brother and sister with an old thin quilt.
Although the weather was cold, Chen An and Shen Ning did not feel cold at all. They felt very warm in their hearts. They walked with torches. The light of a torch could not illuminate very far, but Chen An and Shen Ning were extremely excited. Although it was dark all around, they still looked around with freshness.
Feng Liuniang smiled and said, "You two must have had great luck in your previous lives. You have brought A-Luo to be your sister-in-law."
It is extremely rare in the countryside to arrange a pass for children to be taken to the county for fun.
Shen An and Shen Ning smiled with their eyes curved: "Auntie, make more money and bring Ah Xu with you in the future. Ah Xu will definitely be happy."
Feng Liuniang thought that if her son could also go to the county town with Chen An and Chen Ning, he would probably be just as excited. She smiled and said, "Yes, then I have to work hard to let Xu go to the county town with you guys to see the world."
Gan and the others watched with a smile. It had been less than two months since Gan and Feng Liuniang went to the county to sell tofu, but Feng Liuniang had become much more cheerful and her eyes were often filled with smiles.
When it was getting a little brighter, Shen An and Shen Ning refused to stay in the car anymore and got out to walk. They walked three miles without complaining of being tired and were particularly excited when they lined up at the city gate.
Both of them were small in stature, and they stood on tiptoe to look into the county town.
"I see a two-story building!" Shen An was very excited. It turned out that a two-story building was so tall, and it turned out that a house could be built like this.
He was envious and yearning in his heart, and leaned close to Shen Ning’s ear and said, “When our family has money in the future, can we also build a building like this?”
“Is this kind of building comfortable to live in?”
"It must be very comfortable."
While they were talking, the brother and sister had already walked a short distance with the team. Chen An then leaned out of the team a little to see how the people in front entered the city.
Chen Ning had the experience of standing at the city gate for a long time before, so he whispered to Chen An, "You have to hand it over to the guard for inspection first, and then give a penny before you can enter."
Chen An looked at it and saw that it was indeed true. He turned around and asked Sang Luo with a smile: "Sister-in-law, can we keep the pass and the money ourselves?"
Entering the city gate is considered a fun thing, and I am eager to try it myself.
Sang Luo naturally agreed, and took out three wooden signs from her sleeve pocket, took her own sign, and gave the other two to Shen An.
At this moment, Shen An and Shen Ning already knew quite a few characters, such as the names of their family members, Qiyang County, Qingpu Township and Shili Village.
He received the wooden sign, and the brother and sister looked at it head to head. Shen Ning reached out and took one of the pieces in his hand: "My name is written on it, this is mine."
"My name is on this. This is mine."
Neither of them needed to ask Sang Luo, as she divided the responsibilities on her own.
Gan, who was standing behind Sang Luo, looked at this scene in surprise and asked Sang Luo, "Can Xiao An and An Ning read?"
Sang Luo smiled and nodded: "I know a few words, and I usually teach them at home."
Gan was stunned for a moment, but soon remembered that Sang Luo was literate.
A thought that had never occurred to her before arose in her mind at this moment: Could Sang Luo also teach her four children to recognize a few words?
Once this thought comes to mind, it is difficult to suppress it.
Being able to write and calculate is a great skill. In their village, the only literate people are Zhou Cunzheng and his children. There is a difference between being literate and being illiterate. Although the Zhou children have to farm and serve in the military like them, Gan believes that when Zhou Cunzheng retires from the position of village chief, the next village chief will definitely come from the Zhou family without any surprises.
Because only the Zhou family’s children can read.
Whenever the village needed to sign a deed or write something, they would go to the Zhou family. Even when it came to signing a pledge, they would not dare to put their fingerprints on it without finding a reliable person to check it. In those days, there were people who were illiterate and had their own people or land pledged away.
But Gan soon remembered that Sang Luo was very busy and had almost no rest.
Besides, her Da Niu is twelve years old, which is actually quite close to Sang Luo's age. This is not appropriate. Qiao'er is too young, only five years old. Sang Luo doesn't have that much energy to teach the child for her.
She immediately looked at the siblings Shen An and Shen Ning, and after thinking for a while, she asked Sang Luo, "Can Xiao An and Aning teach our Da Niu, Er Niu, San Niu and Qiao Er a few words when they are free? It doesn't have to be many, just their own names and some common words, so that they won't be fooled when they read deeds or notes in the future."
Sang Luo was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course, as long as the children are willing."
Gan hurried to see Shen An and Shen Ning.
The brother and sister obviously heard what Gan said. Shen An smiled and said, "Of course, I can teach you everything I know. Wait a few days. When you are not so busy in a few days, auntie can help them make a small sand table for calligraphy practice."
Some jujubes can still be picked up these days, and they have to go to the mountains to collect more.
Gan was overjoyed: "Auntie thanks you on behalf of your elder brother, the second brother, and the third brother, Qiao'er."
Qin Fangniang and Feng Liuniang also became interested and turned to ask.
Chen An did not say anything, and Chen Ning even smiled and said, "The little girl has already learned from me. She can write her own name. Auntie doesn't know yet, right?"
Qin Fangniang really didn't know. When she heard this, her face lit up with joy: "Thank you so much, Aning."
As they were talking, the line had already reached them. Everyone checked in one by one and paid the entrance fee to enter the city. The guard was a little surprised when he checked Chen An and Shen Ning. He lowered his head to look at them twice, checked according to the procedure, collected the money, and waved his hand to let the two children in.
The brother and sister were so excited as if they had passed a very difficult hurdle. As soon as they entered, they stopped and waited for their sister-in-law with a smile. After Sang Luo came in, they smiled and handed the pass to Sang Luo for safekeeping.
When arriving at the county town, Sang Luo would personally deliver vegetarian tripe as usual, if for no other reason than to keep in touch with Shopkeeper Xu so that their friendship could be maintained.
The two little siblings had never been to such a big restaurant before. Chen An was better, he knew how to restrain himself and look around secretly, but Chen Ning was not so thoughtful, he turned his little head around so much that his eyes were not enough.
She was amazed in her heart that the two-story house was so big and beautiful inside.
Shopkeeper Xu had heard from his servants that Sang Luo's family had two children about eight or nine years old. Today was the first time he saw them. Although the two children were dressed simply and were a little tanned, they had well-developed facial features and were extremely cute.
Seeing the little brother and sister reminded Manager Xu of his own children who stayed in Shezhou. The two youngest children in the family were about the same age as Shen An and his sister.
He hadn't been back for a long time and hadn't seen his children for several months. He suddenly thought of them and missed them very much.
Shopkeeper Xu thought that maybe he should take some time to go back someday, even if it was just for three or two days.
There was some transference of feelings, so Shopkeeper Xu was particularly enthusiastic towards Shen An and Shen Ning. This time, he did not let Sang Luo refuse, but directly called the waiter to the kitchen to bring some breakfast from the restaurant to the private room, saying, "You must be tired and hungry after walking more than ten miles. You can do whatever you want. The two children are still young, so eat something to fill your stomach before you go around the county, and let the two children taste the food in our Dongfulou."
Sang Luo laughed when she heard this. Indeed, it was worth the trip to the county if she had a meal at the largest restaurant in the county.
She didn't push it anymore and said with a smile, "Then it would be disrespectful to refuse it."
When she and Shopkeeper Xu met, they often performed the bowing ceremony commonly used by men. When the two children saw her, they also followed suit and bowed: "Thank you, uncle."
I couldn't speak any social words, so I just said the four words that were least likely to make mistakes.
This made Shopkeeper Xu burst into laughter: "Okay, okay, go with your sister-in-law to the private room. Uncle picked a private room for you with a view of the street."
When they heard that they could see the street view, the brother and sister's eyes lit up. This time they didn't bow, but thanked with bright smiles.
Shopkeeper Xu was in a good mood and did not disturb them. He asked his waiter to lead Sang Luo and the other two away.
This time, Shen An not only saw the two-story house, but also entered the second floor of the two-story house, and even stood at the window of the private room on the second floor and looked down.
This perspective is so novel, it’s an experience I’ve never had in my life.
The brother and sister were both very excited, calling each other "sister-in-law" left and right, and wanted to pull Sang Luo to see it together.
Sang Luo found it funny and thought that in the future there would be many high-rise buildings with dozens of floors in the world, so two-story houses would not be like this.
But Sang Luo thought that a two-story house was indeed rare for two children who had never been to the county town. She smiled and followed them for a while, listening to the two little ones chattering and pointing at things they didn't recognize and asking her questions. Sang Luo answered everything she knew.
After the two kids had asked almost all their questions, she returned to the table and sat down, letting the brother and sister continue to look at the scenery from the window. The brother and sister really thought that the county was great, everything was good, and they were so excited when they saw a passerby, a car, cows, horses, and mules that they exclaimed in surprise while suppressing their voices.
If the waiter had not started delivering meals to the private room, the brother and sister would have been reluctant to leave the window.
Dim sum and porridge were served in a continuous stream. There were only three of them, but Manager Xu had eight dishes of various dim sum served. The food in the restaurant was exquisite and the portions were not large, but eight dishes were still a lot.
Sang Luo would put down her chopsticks when she was 70% full, but the two little ones were a little full and there was still a lot left on the table. After asking Sang Luo, Chen An asked the waiter to help pack it up in an oil paper bag.
They packed their bags, but unexpectedly when they left the private room and went to the counter to say goodbye to Shopkeeper Xu, Shopkeeper Xu had prepared two boxes of snacks for them.
"This is long-lasting. Bring it home as a snack for the kids."
Even though Sang Luo was not used to being polite, she felt a little embarrassed now: "This is eating and taking, it really makes me thick-skinned today."
Shopkeeper Xu smiled and bowed, "Mrs. Sang's tofu and vegetarian tripe have helped our Dongfulou gain popularity this year. Normally, I would not have the chance to thank her. It is a rare opportunity that Mrs. Sang brought her two children here, so I have this opportunity to treat her to a meal."
He even lowered his voice on purpose when he said this, as the family across the street were staring at him day after day, trying to find out the source of the vegetarian tripe.
Sang Luo smiled, and the two of them praised each other for a few words. During this time, customers came in from time to time, and Manager Xu always had to greet them. Sang Luo did not delay Manager Xu from doing business any longer, so she picked up the shoulder pole, took the two children with her and said goodbye and left the restaurant.
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